Thirds to edmund conyerse and ambrose t



(No Model.)

G. M. ROBBINS.

GAR GOU'PLING. No. 393,393. Patented Nov. 27, 1888.

Tlf/7571666661 N. PETERS. Fhnwlihw npher Wnshmginn, D C

UNITED STATES PATENT Orifice@ GEORGE M. ROBBINS, OE VVOROESTER,MASSACHUSETTS, ASSlGNOR OF TWO- THIBDS TO EDMUND CONVERSE AND AMBROSE T.MATTHEWS, BOTH OF SAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 393,393, dated November27, 1888.

Application filed September 8, 1858. Serial No. EIRLQOG.' (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.;

Be it known that l, GEORGE M. IoBnrNs, of Worcester, in the county ofWorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Car-Couplings, of which the followingisaspeciiication.

My invention relates to car-couplings; and it consists in various novelfeatures and details, hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, thcob- 1oject of the invention being to simplify and cheapen the construction ofthe coupler without unduly increasing the weight and without a sacrificeof strength.

In the drawings, Figure i is a perspective view of my improved coupler,Fig. 2, a longitudinal sectional View showing two couplings connected,Figs. 8 and 4, sectional views on the lines a? and y y, showing theparts in different positions; and Fig. 5, a perspective view 2o of theparts separated.

A indicates the draw-head, provided with a longitudinal slot, B,extending inward from its front face to receive the link, and providedalso with a longitudinal slot, O, intersecting 2 5 the former slot toreceive the pivoted hook D. This hook D is provided with a nose, c, andatail, b, having an upright front face, as shown, the construction ofthese parts being such that when the hook is not in engagement with thelink its nose will be out of the way, while its tail always projects upinto the slot B.

E indicates the link, preferably L-shaped,

' pivoted to the upper or lower face of the draw-- head and arranged toswing vertically in rela- 55 tion thereto, instead of being pivoted atthe side, as in my former patent, No. 883,991. The link is adapted toswing up out of the way over the top of the draw-head when not in use;but when swung down into position 4o for use it will be'in properposition to enter the slot B and to engage or be engaged by the hook D.If twoY cars should come together and it should happen that the link oneach was down, upon striking against cach other,

these links would rise at their free ends,thereby preventing injury tothese parts. It is obvious that in lieu of these pivoted links theordinary links may be used.

In order to cause'the cars to couple and uncouple autoinatically,Ieniplo'y a device which, 5o when the cars come together, automaticallylocks the hook in position, and which, should the cars upset and turnpartly over, releases the hook. This device consists, essentially, of aring, F, which encircles the reduced cylindrical neck of the draw-head,as shown in all the figures. The ring F is provided with a seat orrecess, c, in which the hook D normally rests, as shown in Fig. 3, andis also provided with a weight, G, which projects ont through 60 anopening, d, in a shell o1' cap, H, holding the ring in place. The ringis adapted to turn upon the neck of the draw-head a limited distance,the latter being controlled by means of a pin, c, secured to thedraw-head and working in a slot in the ring, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and4:. The parts are represented in their normal positions in Figs. il. and8, upon reference to which, and to the left-hand coupling of Fig. 2, itwill be seen that the weight G is at its highest point, and the hook Din its scat in the ring F and its nose a out of the way. The ring isprevented from turning by reason of its being engaged by the hook D; butas soon as the end of the link strikes the upright face of tail b itthrows the nose of the hook up into engagement with the link, and as thehook thus rises out of the seat in the ring thc weight falling a limiteddistance turns the ring,as shown in Fig. 4t. This brings 8o a solidportion of the ring beneath the hook and prevents it from falling awayor becoming disengaged from the link. The weight Grwill` keep the ringin this position so long as the cars remain upright; but should the carsturn over the weight would hold the ring at rest, while the other partswould turn, thereby bringing the hook over the seatin the ring andpermitting the automatic uncoupling of the cars. Gap or shell H fitsover the ring F and 9o the reduced neck of the draw-head, and is securedto the latter in any suitable manner.

The weight may be connected by means of a chain with a hand-leverpivoted to the platform, so as to raise the weight to its normalposition, and when, as in some cases, the link is pivoted to the lowerside or face ofthe drawhead, I will employ a link-supporting device;

but as these devices are common and well known and form no partof thepresent inven tion it is not deemed necessary to illustrate them.

Having thus described my invention, what I Clainl is 1. In aear-conpler, the combi nation,\vitb a draw-head, of a hook pivotedtherein and a Weighted ring encircling the draw head and provided with aseat for the hook.

2. In a car-coupler, the combination, with a draw-head having a pivotedhook, of a ring encircling the draw-head and provided with a seat forthe hook and a pin or stop to limit the movement of the ri ng.

3. In a car-coupier, the combination of a draw-head, a pivoted hook, aringr provided with a seat for the hook, a weight secured to the ring,and a cap or shell covering the ring,r

2o and provided with an opening in its side.

4. In a car-coupler, the combination, with the d rawhead provided with avertical slot in its front wall, of the L-shaped link E,pivoted in theslot and adapted to swing upward above the top of the draw-head, so asto permit the link of another ear to enter the draw-head, allsubstantially as shown.

5. In a ear coupler, the combination, with a draw-head, A, havingintersecting slots B and C, book D, pivotcd in slot C, and a weightedring, F, encircling the draw-head and provided with a seat to receivethe hook.

In Witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE M. ROBBINS. Witnesses:

C. F. STEVENS, WM. E. Lewis.

